During Sunday prayer on Dec. 15, Pope Francis referred to Russia and Ukraine as "brothers," while reiterating calls for peace Russia’s war against Ukraine. "They are brothers, cousins. Let them come to an understanding.

The latest is a special gift as Christmas draws near: a vehicle converted into a small mobile hospital to care for the inhabitants of this country devastated by war. The person in charge of delivering the vehicle where the injured can be operated on will be the pope’s almoner, Cardinal Konrad Krajweski.

Putting aggressors and victims on the same level is "ethically and morally wrong," said commenter Anton Gerashchenko in response to the pope's words.

In late November, during a brief audience with people involved in the sport of motorcycle racing, Pope Francis asked for prayers, joking that "my work is very accelerated, and my bike has aged and doesn't work properly!

“The president thanked the pope for his continued advocacy to alleviate global suffering, including his work to advance human rights and protect religious freedoms,” the statement read. “President Biden also graciously accepted His Holiness Pope Francis’ invitation to visit the Vatican next month.”

I think of Gaza with great sorrow; so much cruelty, children hit by machine guns, schools and hospitals bombed,’ pontiff says - Anadolu Ajansı

Pope Francis called for a ceasefire on all war fronts in his Sunday Angelus prayer ahead of Christmas, condemning the “cruelty” of bombing schools and hospitals in Ukraine and Gaza. “Let the weapons fall silent and let the Christmas carols ring out!

Francis delivered his Sunday blessing from indoors with Vatican officials citing the cold weather and his upcoming busy Christmas schedule. #EuropeNews

Let the weapons fall silent and let the Christmas carols ring out!’ Francis said, delivering his Sunday blessing from indoors due to a cold and as a precaution ahead of a busy Christmas period

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, arriving at a summit of EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday, said unity between the EU and United States was necessary to bring peace to Ukraine.

Francis delivered his Sunday Angelus from inside due to a cold and as a precaution ahead of a busy Christmas period.